Conveying mechanism



March 30, 1937.

C. A. ADAMS CONVEYING MECHANI SM Filed Jan. 22, 1934 3 Sheets-Sme?l lATTORNEYS March 30, 1937. cz. A. ADAMS CONVEYING MECHANISM 'Filed Jan.22. 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4s 63 27 "ze 25] 4452 t 2c, 3L 65 Il l ll 35///l/Y INVENTOR CHA HLESAADAME:

BY @ful A'r-roHNsys March 30, 1937. v C, A ADAMS 2,075,416

' CONVEYING MECHANISM l Filed Jan. 22, 1934 3 Sheets-Shee'rl 3 INVENToR.CHARLES A. ADAMS ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES une i CONVEYING MECHANISM charlesA. Adams, lnimma city, ra., assigner to Mathews Conveyor Company,Ellwood City, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 22,1934, SerialNo. v'707,777 'i Y 11 claims. (o1. ies-.32)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in runout tablesof the herringbone type, such as disclosed in Patents No. 1,931,453 toC. A. Adams, No. 1,931,454 to M. J. Anderson,

5 issued October 17, 1933, and in Patent No. 1,946,453 to J. R.Brodbeck.

Tables of the herringbone type are particularly well adapted fortransferring hot metal bars,4

sheets, and packs of sheets, fromthe ydischarge l ends of a plurality ofheating furnaces to a single point of operation, or a suitable feedingmeans leading thereto. Tables of this type may,`how ever, be usedequally well for transferring'other articles such, for example, ascompositionv boards l and sheets, boxes, crates, and various otherarticles, from a plurality of sources of supply to a single receivingmeans. For instance, articles may be delivered onto the herringbonetable herein disclosed,v from a plurality of conveyers,`

or furnaces, or other separate sources of supply, and be transferredthereby to a single conveyer having its receiving end positionedadjacent to each furnace compartment is made sufficiently wide toaccommodate the widest sheets to be handled. In such an installation,the receiving end of the herringbone table is made sufficiently wide toembrace the discharge ends of the two' furnaces, which usually arearranged side by side,

and from which the sheets are discharged onto the herringbone table.

In many cases the herringbone tables areV installed in steel mills whichhave'been in existence for years. In such steel mills,- the rollingmills are usually permanently located, and the heating furnaces, evenwhen newly constructed,

must be placed in positions determined by mill" dimensions, location ofother equipment, etc. In

some such installations, the furnaces and the rolling mill may not bespaced very far apart, with the result that when a herringbone table anda feeder catcher unit are subsequently interposed between the furnacesand the rolling mill, the sides of the herringbone table must convergerapidly towards the discharge end thereof because of said table beingrather short in length, and further, because the receiving end of saidtable must embrace both furnaces.

The axes of the load carrying rollers at each side of the herringbonetable are usually disposed at right angles to their respective sideframe members. Obviously, when a sheet is delivered 1 30 onto one of therows of rollers of the herringbone table, from a furnace or furnacecompartment;

the sheet is rst turned out of its longitudinally alined positionoccupied while being `transferred through the furnace, to askewedposition upon` opposite side thereof, whereby it is squared upon thetable in a position wherein its sides are sub",` stantially parallel tothe longitudinal centerline of the two furnaces, and the longitudinalcenter-V line of the herringbone table. "While being'l transportedthrough the furnaces, thesides gof the sheets are substantially parallelto the lori"- gitudinal centerlinesthereof, but when delivered onto theherringbone table, this position'is altered toa skewed position. It istherefore necessaryr thatV the sheet be returned to a squared longitu-Vdinally alined position before, or at the time it isrdischarged'from theherringbone table onto the feeder table leading to the rolling mill.

In the .accompanying drawings, there is disclosed a herringbone typetable particularlyv adapted for transferring wide or narrow sheets` fromtwo heating furnaces or furnace compartments to a rolling mill feedertable, and it is also capable of handling sheets of considerable length.

It hasbeen found that whenvery wide sheets' are heated in the furnaces,they are frequently warped, in which condition they are delivered ontothe herringbone table. 'IK-he sheets are often so warpedthat a largeportion of the sheets sur-,-V face does not come in direct contact withthe rollers of the herringbone table,'whereby thefinfluence of theserollers upon the sheet to square it is minimized. VThe inherentprinciple of opera` tion of a herringbone table, as clearly.Y setforthin the above mentioned patent to C. A. Adams;

No.V 1,931,453, is based upon the influence' theop' positely disposedrollers of the two sides thereof Y haveupon the sheet tosquare it, whenitffapi preaches the center of the table, particularly at the dischargeend thereof, where the's'heets are f to be squared with the feeder tableorother re" ceiving means. When vthe sheets are warped as abovedescribed, the rollers of the 'herringbone table may not exert theirfull inuence thereon. Another difficulty sometimes encountered when'handling wide, hot sheets is that frequently the corners thereof maydroop, or sag between the rollers, with the result that it is diflicultto squarely'position the sheets upon the table when' they reachY thedischarge end thereof.

In a furnace and rolling mill installation de-Y Signed for rollingsheets which do not vary too Cil greatly in size, both as to width andlength, runout tables such as disclosed in the above mentioned patentsoperate satisfactorily. Difficulty, however, is sometimes experienced,when handling in the same installation, sheets which vary considerablyin width, and particularly in length, as, for example, someinstallations are now called upon to handle sheets varying from eight totwelve feet in length. It will therefore be readily understood that whentransferring a long sheet over the runout table, if some means were notprovided at the discharge end of the table to assist the inclinedrollers thereof to aline or square each sheet with the feeder table, thesheets might not always be squared with the longitudinal centerline ofthe feeder table or rolling mill, when delivered thereto fromA therunout table.

To overcome the above mentioned difficulties, I have provided a novelsquaring mechanism adapted for use in connection with herringbone tablesof the general character herein disclosed, whereby each sheet, when itreaches a position adjacent the discharge end of the table, will bepositively squared or longitudinally alined therewith, before it isdischarged from the table, and also whereby the sheet may be dischargedfrom the table in a position offset from the longitudinal centerlinethereof, `whereby the sheets may be squarely delivered onto a feedertable or other receiving means, whose centerline may be disposed inoiset relation to the centerline of the herringbone table. v

It frequently happens that an installation com-- prising the usualheating furnaces of a double furnace, a Yherringbone runout table, afeeder catcher unit, and the usual rolling mill, must be adapted forhandling sheets varying greatly in size. To meet this condition, eachfurnace or heating compartmentmay be provided with a plurality ofconveying means as, for example, the furnace compartment may be equippedwith four conveyer chains disposed lengthwise of the heating compartmentand arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to eachother andto the furnace walls. When maximum width sheets are being manufactured,the sheets, while being transported through the furnace, are supportedon the four conveyer chains therein, and are substantially symmetricallypositioned thereon withY respect to the longitudinal axis of the furnaceor furnace compartment. Herringbone tables are designed to receivesheets symmetrically positioned in the furnace, transfer them toward thedischarge end of the table, turn them to a substantially squaredposition, and discharge them therefrom in a position substantiallysymmetrical about the longitudinal centerline of the herringbone table.Tables such as those disclosed in the two patents hereinbeforementioned,l are well adapted for handling sheets in the matter aboveoutlined. Y

It is now becoming more or less common practice with some sheet rollingmills to use the same furnace orfurnaces for rolling both narrow andwide sheets. In such cases, the heating compartments of the furnacesmust be made sufciently wide to accommodate the widest sheets which, ashereinbefore stated, necessitates that the receiving end of theherringbone table be correspondingly widened, whereby it may embrace thedischarge ends of the two furnaces, it being understood that twofurnaces are usually employed, placed side by side, as disclosed in theaccompanying drawings.

In these Wide heating furnaces, it'sometimes happens that one side ofthe heating compartment of the furnace will become overheated or will beheated to a higher temperature than the opposite side thereof. When thiscondition arises, and narrow sheets are to be rolled, it has been foundadvisable to convey the narrow sheets through the furnace compartment onthe high temperature side thereof, whereby the excess heat at that sideof the furnace may be utilized and consumed to advantage, and with theresult that the temperature within the furnace or heating compartmentmay be substantially equalized, whereby when wider sheets areSubsequently rolled, they will be subjected to a temperature which issubstantially uniform throughout the width of the furnace compartment.

It is obvious vthat when narrow sheets are con-l veyedthrough a widefurnace compartment along one side thereof, as above described, saidnarrow sheets will be discharged onto the herringbone table to one sideof the longitudinal centerline of the furnace compartment. Should thesheets be discharged from the furnace adjacent its outer wall, they willbe delivered onto the rollers at one vside of the herringbone table in aposition adjacent the outer ends of said rollers, whereby they may notbe carried inwardlytoward the,

longitudinal centerline of the herringbone table sufciently far tocontact with and becomerinfluenced by the rollers at the opposite sideof the table, to thereby cause them to be discharged from the table inavposition symmetrical about the longitudinal centerline-thereof. On theother hand, when narrow sheets are conveyed through the furnace alongits inner wall, they will be delivered onto the herringbone table at apoint nearer the center thereof, and consequently when being transferredto the discharge end of the table, they may be carried past the center'thereof and are likely to be discharged from the table in a position inwhich the sheet is out of longitudinal alinement with the centerline ofthe table. The above diiiiculties are positively eliminated by the useof the novel squaring mechanism herein disclosed.

An important object of the present invention therefore is to provide amechanism operable in connection with a herringbone runout table toaccurately position warped or distorted sheets upon the discharge end ofsaid table, whereby A further object of the invention is to provide aherringbone. runout tableA having meansfor accurately positioning sheetsof any width received from a furnace, in order that they may bedischarged therefrom in a position symmetrical with the longitudinallcenterline of the herringbone table, or with the receiving means,

A further object is to provide in connection with a herringbone runouttable, a power operated mechanism for squaring the sheets thereon beforethey are discharged therefrom onto a suitable receiving means, saidmechanism being automatically controlled by the movement of the sheetsdelivered onto either side of the receiving end of the table, andwhereby the sheets, when approaching the discharge end of the! table,will cause said mechanism to become operative and square each sheet uponthe table before it is discharged therefrom, said mechanism normallybeing retained in'inoperative position.

A further and more specic object of the invention is to provide asquaring mechanism adapted for use in connection with a runout table ofthe class herein disclosed, comprising a pair of pivoted guide membersor arms disposed adjacent the discharge end of the table and adapted tobe swung inwardly into engagement with each sheet traveling over thetable to thereby square or aline the sheet vtherewith before it isdischarged from the table, said mechanism also being adapted to alineeach sheet with a receiving means whose centerline may be laterallyoffset from the longitudinal centerline of the runout table, wherebythev discharge end of the runout table need not be mounted for swingingor lateral movement, as disclosed in theV Patent No.

1,946,453 hereinbefore referred to.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in theannexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there has been disclosed an improvedstructure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention,but it is to be understood that the invention is not to be confined tothe exact features shown, as various changes may be made within thescope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a power driven runout table embodying myinvention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan View of the discharge end of the tableshowing my improved squaring mechanism mounted thereon;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view substantially on the line 3--3 ofFigure 2, showing the means for varying the spacing between the twoguide members;

Figure 4 is a View taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2, to show theoperating mechanism;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5--5 of Figure 3, withsome of the parts omitted;

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram;

Figure '7 is an enlarged detail view showing a portion of one of theconnecting rods for actuating the guide members;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view showing one of the universalconnections provided at the ends of the connecting rods;

Figure 9 is a detail sectional View on the line 9 9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view showing the construction of thecoupling for connecting together the adjusting screws of the guidemembers; and

Figure l1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating substantially the pathtraveled by a narrow sheet over the table, when discharged from thefurnace adjacent its outer wall.

In the selected embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, there isillustrated in Figure 1, for purposes of disclosure, a live rollerrunout table of the general character disclosed in the two patents andthe pending application hereinbefore mentioned, but as this inventiondoes not concern itself with the specific construction of the table, butto an improved squaring mechanism adapted for use in connection withsuch herringbone type tables, it is thought unnecessary to describe thetable in detail, and it will therefore be but briefly described. v

The table, as illustrated in Figure 1, comprises a pair of stationarylive roller receiving sections C onto which the sheets Vare deliveredfrom the furnaces, designated by the letters A and B. From the sectionsC, the sheets are discharged members I I.

onto the main carrying bed of the runout table, designated generally bythe letter D. The table D is composed of angularly disposed live rollersover which the sheets are transferred to a single receiving means E,which may be the usual feeder table of a feeder catcher unit, such asare commonly used in steel mills, and which is directly associated withthe rolling mill andthe feeder table E, disposed between the dischargeend of the herringbone table and the rolling mill. Each stationaryreceiving sectionC, as shown in Figure 1, comprises outer and inner sideframe members 3 and 4, which frame members are preferably box-shaped incross-section, and extend downwardly and are supported upon the Amillfloor, or upon suitable foundations, not shown.

The receiving sections Care provided with suit'- able rollers 5,rotatably supported on stationary axles, not shown, the ends of whichare supported in the side frame members 3 and 4. The rollers 5 are shownprovided with suitable spaced discs 6, welded or otherwise securedthereto. The discs 6 form the supporting means for the sheets beingtransferred over the sections C. The discs 6 function to prevent the hotplates from contacting directly with the peripheries of the rollers 5,and to dissipate heat emanating from the furnaces. Suitable drives, notshown, are provided within the box-shaped side members 4-4 for drivingthe rollers 5. These drives may be driven from suitable motors 1,located between the inner frame members 4 4, as shown in Figure 1.

The converging tablerD is shown comprising inclined side frame membersII-I I, preferably similar in cross section to the frame members 3 and 4of the receiving section C. A plurality'of load carrying'rollers I2 andI2' are arranged in separate rows disposed with their aXesatsubstantially right angles to their respective side The two sets or rowsof rollers I2 and I2 constitute the bed of the table and are angularlydisposed with relation to each other. The rollers I2 and I 2 arepreferably rotatably supported upon stationary through type axles,having their ends suitably supported in the outer frame members II. Theinner ends of the said axles may be supported by suitable angle clipssecured to a transverse beam i4, and a center beam I5, which membersform part of the supporting structure of the table D. The outer ends ofthe rollers of each row of rollers of the tableDare operativelyconnected to suit'- able drives, not shown, which may be driven fromVmotor-reducer units I5, of ordinary construction.

The motors 'I and I6 are operated simultaneously and continuously sothat the rollers 5, I2, and I2 are always alive to receive sheets fromeither of the furnaces A or B, and transfer them to the feeder table E.

` The V-shaped opening at the discharge end of the table, resulting fromthe angular disposition of the rollers I2 and I2 of the table D, isprovided with a plurality of rollers 20, each of which is rotatablysupported on a stationary axle, the ends of which are non-rotatablysupported upon the table supporting structure. Each roller may beprovided with a plurality of discs 2I,'which cooperate to form thecarrying surfacefor the sheets at the discharge end of the table. Therollers 20 are power driven by suitable means, not shown. yThe drivesfor the rollers 5, I2, I2 and' 20, as hereinbefore stated, are notshown, as these are shown in detail in the hereinbefore men'- tionedpatent to Adams, No. 1,931,453, and it is therefore deemed unnecessaryto herein disclose A.theagsame- VThe. rollers 20 are operatedVsimuletaneously withthe rollers I2 and I2'.

.An;important feature of the present invention resides in the novelmeans `provided at the discharge end of the herringbone table D, adaptedito cooperate with the load carrying rollers I2 and I2', and.' therollers 2U, to square or aline `:each sheet with `the feeder table E,just prior to vbeing delivered thereto. The means for thus squaringthesheets before they are delivered onto the vfeeder table E, is bestshown in Figures l, 2, f3, 4, and 5, and comprises guide members 25 and25', secured to vertically mounted shafts 26, journaled-in bearings 21.secured to the upper and lower portions of a movable head, designatedgenerally by the numerals 28, in Figures 1 and 2.

The two heads 28 are here shown as compris- :ing -structuralmembers'welded or otherwise secured together to form suitable supportingstrucitures. Y The heads 28 are movably supported upon a transversebeam, designated generally by the numeralr 29, and Vdisposed above theherringbone table Dnear its discharge end, as best shown in Figure 2.The supporting beam 29 is shown comprisingo-pposed channel members 35and 3l, secured together in spaced relation by top and bottom plates 32,welded to thelanges of said channels at the ends thereof, and by top andbottom plates .33, welded to said channels intermediate their ends. Thesupporting beam or structure 29, above described, is supported at eachend by vertical members 34, the lower ends of which may be secured tothefloor or suitable foundations. 'I'he upright members 34 are braced.' bybeing tied to the side frame members Ill of the herringbone table bysuitable strap-like brackets 35. The heads 28 are substantially alike inconstruction.

Each movablehead 28 is secured to a slide, designated generally by thenumeral 38, and adapted to be moved laterally with respect to the tableD, between the channel members 30 and 3| of the transverse beam 29. Eachslide 38 comprises top and bottom plate members 39 secured together inspaced relation, vertically, by

suitable spacing blocks 4I, as best shown in Figure 5. 'Ihe edges of theplates 39 are reduced' in thickness at opposite sides to form shoulders40 which cooperate with the inside edges of the channel members v3l!and- 3I to keep the slide 38 longitudinally alined with the transversesupporting beam 29. The spacing blocks 4I of each slide are spaced apartlengthwise of the beam 29, suiciently to receive therebetween a nut 42,which nut is held stationary between the two complemental blocks 4 I.The nuts 42 are threaded to receive a pair of correspondingly threadedalined adjusting screws 43 and 43' which extend the full length of thebeam 29.

. The adjusting screws 43 and 43' are supported at the ends ofthe beams29 by suitable bearings 44 and are supported at the center of the tableD by a bearing 45, as best sho-wn in Figure 3, the latter bearing beingsecured to the plate member 33 which is secured to the bottoms of thechannel members 30 and 3l at the center of the apparatus. The adjustingscrew 43 is provided at the end of the beam 29 with an operating wheel46 whereby the screws may be conveniently rotated. The adjusting screws43 and 43' are threaded in opposite directions, as will be noted byreference to Figure 3, and are suitably secured together adjacent thebearing 45 by suitableimeans which will subsequently be described.Rotation of the screws 43 and 43 will effect ad- 'I'he bearings 2'! maybe justment V of the heads 28-with respect 4 to each other, rotation ofthescrews inone direction,

causing said. heads to move away from each other, and rotation of thescrews in the opposite direction, causing ysaid heads to move towardseach other, the movement thereof being symmetrical about thelongitudinal centerline ofthe herringbone table.

To the upper end of each vertically disposed shaft 26, there is secureda crank arm 50. Each crank arm 58 has one end of a' connecting -rod 52connected thereto, the opposite endsv lof which are connected to similarcrank arms53 operatively mounted upon, a rock shaft 54 supported insuitable bearings 59 secured to the transverse.

beam 29, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3. Because of each pair of crankarms 50 and 53 swinging in different planes, the connections between theconnecting rods 52 and said crank arms are adapted for universalmovement.

To thus connect the connecting rods to the crank arms, each crank arm isprovided with a cap removably secured to its respective crank arm bysuitable bolts, as sho-wn in Figures 8 and 9. Each crank arm and itscap.y 5I `is provided with a semi-spherical recess. These -recessescooperate to provide a spherical socket adapted to receive a ballprovided at each Yend of the connecting rod .52, asclearly illustratedin Figure 8. The ends of the connecting -rodsV extend through openingsprovided between-.the crank arms and their respective caps 5I, as shownin Figure A9, which openings are relatively larger in diameter than theconnecting rods, thereby to permit swinging movement ofy the latter withrespect to the crank arms.

The crank arms 53 are mounted for sliding movement upon the rock shaft54, but are prevented from relatively rotating thereon by means ofkeyways 55, provided in the shaft 54, and suitable keys secured inthebores ofY said Varms .53 andslidablyrreceived in said keyways 55. Thecrank arms 53 are shown provided with hubs 56, each of which has anannular. groove machined in its periphery, each adapted to -receive aforked anglebracket 5l, securedvtothe plates 39 of the slides 38 of theheads 28. 4The brackets 5T prevent lateral movement of the crank arms 53relative to the heads 28.

The means provided for operating the rock draulic cylinder having aplunger operable therein adapted to be actuated by fluid pressure,circulate-d by means of a suitable fluid pump provided within theplunger of the thruster. This pump is operated by a small electricmotor, not shown, mounted in the upper portion 62 of the thruster.

The rotary motion of the-motor in the upper portion of the thruster, isconverted into straight-line movement in one direction by the action ofa suitable huid-circulating means with- .in the cylinder of thethruster, whereby a smooth reciprocal movement is imparted to the crossf They Cil

head 6T of the thruster by the action of the plunger thereof. The crowshead 61 is connected to the plunger of the thruster by spaced rods B6,operating in suitable guides provided in the cylinder head of thethruster. By thus connecting the thruster to the crank il, each time thethruster is operated, the crank 5l will be swung upwardly to the dottedline position, indicated in Figure 4, whereby a rocking movement is im-10 parted to the shaft 5t with the resultant actua- 'tion of the crankarms 5) and 53, and therefore the guide members 25 and 25'. Suchmovement of the rock shaft by the thruster will cause the guide membersto be moved into operative posil5 tions, as indicated by the dottedlines in Figure 2, to square the sheets upon the runout table D beforethey are discharged therefrom. The mechanism is so constructed that whenthe guide members 25 and 25 are in their closed or operative positions,they will be disposed in substantially parallel relation to each otherand to the longitudinal centerline of the herringbone table, and whenthus positioned, the thruster 63 will be in its full raised position.The cross head of the thruster is retained in such full raised positionas long as its motor remains energized. When the supply of current tothe thruster motor is cut off, the cross head 6l of the thruster isreturned to its lower position, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. This returnmovement of the cross head 5l is aided by a counterweight 'liladjustably secured to a lever 'il keyed to the rock shaft 54 vadjacentto the crank 6l. From the foregoing, it will readily be understood thatF when the thruster motor is deenergized, the thruster cross headreturns to its normal lowered position, thereby causing the rock shaft54 to be rotated in a direction to cause the guide members 25 and 25' tobe returned to their normal inoperative positions, shown in full linesin Figures 1 and 2, and in which positions the outer ends of the guidemembers 25 and 25' will be engaged with the side frame members ll-l l.

In Figures l and 2, the guide members 25 and 25' are shown spaced apartfor handling the maximum width sheets which may be conveyed over theherringbone table D. It will be noted in these figures that the guidemembers are shown symmetrically disposed with respect to thelongitudinal centerline of the table; that is, the distance from thesaid centerline to each guide member, when in operative position, is thesame. The guide members 25 and 25 may be simultaneously moved toward oraway from the centerline of the table by operation of the crank wheel46, because of adjusting screws 43 and 43' being provided with right andleft hand threads. Thus, rotation of the screws 43 and 43 in onedirection, will vcause the heads 28 to be simultaneously 60 movedinwardly, and rotation thereof in the opposite direction, will causethem to move outwardly, away from the centerline of the table. It iscommon practice in the manufacture of metal sheets to use the samerolling mill for rolling sheets of different widths,` this beingaccomplished by changing the rolls of the mill; using long rolls forwide sheets, and relatively shorter rolls for narrow sheets. It is alsowell known in the rolling mill art that the mill rolls are supportedbetween two housings which are bolted to guide rails set in the millfoundation. The mill housings are spaced apart a distance correspondingto the length of the mill rolls. In some mills, both of the housings arelaterally movable and, in changing from one length roll to another, bothmill housings are moved towards or away from each other equal distances.I n such` cases, the longitudinal centerline of the rolling mill isretained in alinementjwith the longitudinal centerline of theherringbone table D, and the feeder table E, interposed between therolling mill and the table D. s

It frequently happens, however, that only one of the mill housings ismovable, the other one being permanently bolted or otherwise secured toits supporting means. With this arrangement, the centerline of therolling mill may be shifted laterally out of alinement with thelongitudinal centerline of the table D, depending upon the length of therolls to be used. Obviously, if the permanently located housing is sopositioned that when medium lengthrolls are used, the centertable D,then it naturally follows that whennarrow sheets are to be rolled,necessitating the substitution of relatively shorter rolls for themedium length rolls, the movable mill housing will be moved towards thestationary mill housing, whereby the centerline of themill is shiftedlaterally to one side of the longitudinal centerline of the herringbonetable. Conversely, when wider sheets are to be rolled, vthe movablehousing is moved in a direction away from the fixed housing, which,obviously, causes the centerline` of the rolling mill to shift to theopposite side of the longitudinal centerline of the table D.

The feeder table leadingto the rolling mill is usually adapted forlateral adjustment, whereby it may always be positioned inlongitudinal-alinement with the centerline of the rolling mill. Suchlateral adjustment of the feeder table may cause it to become disalinedwith the discharge end of the herringbone table D, necessitating thatmeans be provided whereby the sheets may be discharged from theherringbone table, squarely onto the feeder table. f f U l V,

In the herringbone table disclosed in the Patent No.71,946,453, abovementioned, the discharge end of the table is mounted for swingingmovement in an arcuate path, whereby-it may readily -for lateralmovement. The squaring mechanism herein disclosed is particularly welladapted for use in connection with herringbone tables ofthe type Whichare not mounted for lateral move-v ment, and whereby the sheetsdischarged therefrom may always be squared or longitudinally alined withthe receiving end of the feeder table E, before they are deliveredthereunto, regardless of whether or not the feeder tableislongitudinally alined with the herringbone tablefD.

To thus discharge the sheets from the herringbone table D, whereby theywill always be alined with the feeder table E, or other receiving means,the guide members and L25, are mounted for independent adjustmentwhereby, whenv neces sary, they may be symmetrically disposed withrespect to the feeder table E, in which case they may be unsymmetricallydisposed with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the runout tableD. To thus adjust the guide members, the adjusting screws 43 and 43 arecoupled together by a suitable coupling, designated generally by thenumeral 13, as` shown inFigures' '3 and 10. This coupling comprises twomembers suitably secured to the adjacent ends of the twoadjustingscrews, as best shown in Figure 10. Suitable pinsor bolts 14rprovide means for securing the two coupling members together-forsimultaneous operation. One of the coupling members is preferablycounterbored, as shown, to receive a correspondingly shaped projectionupon the other coupling member, whereby said members are maintained inaxial alinement. The adjusting screws 43 and 43 are secured againstlongitudinal movement. Y

'.Io'thus move one of the guide members independently of the other,whereby said members may be positioned unsymmetrically with respecttothe longitudinal centerline of the table D, the pins14 are moved outof engagement with one of the coupling members of` the coupling 13,whereby when thev adjusting screw 43 is rotated by the hand wheel 46,the supporting head 28 of the guide member 25 is moved independently ofthe other supporting head 28. The two heads 28 are then positionedwhereby they are symmetrically disposed with respect to the longitudinalcenterline of the feeder table E, or the receiving means, after whichthe members of the coupling 13 are operatively connected together by thepins 14, as shown in Figure 10, whereby when the crank wheel 46 isrotated, bothadjusting screws 43 and 43 will be operated to therebysimultaneously move the two supporting heads 28k towards or away fromeach other, depending upon the direction of rotation of the crank wheel46. It will thus be seen that by independently adjusting the supportingheads 28, the two guide members 25 and 25' may readily be positioned inoffset relation to the longitudinal centerline of the runout table D,whereby sheets delivered onto said table may be Ysquarely dischargedtherefrom onto a receiving means whose longitudinal centerline may beoffset from the longitudinal centerline of the runout table D.

The guide members 25 and 25', as herein disclosed, are adapted forautomatic operation. That is, they are provided with suitable controlelements positioned to be actuated by the delivery of sheets onto therunout table from the furnaces for controlling the operation of thethruster 63, whereby each time a sheet is delivered onto the runouttable, the guide members will' automatically move into operativepositions, indicated by the dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. f To thusautomatically control the operation l of the guide members 25 and 25',suitable limit switches 82 and 83 are positioned at the receiving end ofthe runout table in the paths of the sheets, whereby the latter willactuate said switches. These limit switches are diagrammaticallyillustrated in Figure 6, and are electrically connected to a suitablesupply circuit comprising conductors 88 and 8|. The limit switch 83 isconnected to the conductor 8| of the supply circuit by wires 84 and 85,and to the conductor 88 of the supply circuit by wire 85', the coil of atime delay relay 88, wire 89, contact 98, and wires 9| and 92. The otherlimit switch 82 is connected in parallel with the limit switch 83 bywires 82, 81, and 85'-, and the time delay relay 88 is of well-knownconstruction, and comprises a normally open contact 93, having a wire 94electrically connecting it to the wire 84. The movable contact 93 isadapted to engage a xed contact connected to the wire 81. The normallyvopen contact member 93 of the relay 88 is automatically closed uponenergizati'on of the coil 88 of said relay, and remains closed untilsaid coil is deenergized. The purpose of the contact 93 in the circuitof the limit switches 82 and 83, is to provide a shunt path around saidlimit switches whereby the circuit c.

G in Figure 1, after it hasactuated the limitl switch 82, before thethruster 63 is rendered operableV to move the guide members 25 and 25into their operative or closed positions, indicated in dotted lines inFigure 1. About the time the sheet reaches the position G in Figure 1,the circuit to the thruster is completed, whereby the guide members aremoved into their operative positions to thereby square or longitudinallyaline the sheet with the longitudinal centerline of the runout table D,as indicated by the broken lines H in Figure l, which represent theposition of a sheet about to be discharged from the runout table. Thecontact 95 is interposed in a circuit comprising a wire 96, having oneend connected to the wire 84, and a wire 91 connected to a second timedelay relay coil 98, which also is connected to the wire 92. Closing ofthe contact 95 completes a circuit throughthe wire 84, wire 96, contact95, wire 91, coil 98, and wire 92, which is connected to the conductor88 of the supply circuit. Closing of the above described circuit causesenergization of the time relay 98. Simultaneously with the energizationof the relay 98, a coil 99 is energized by reason of the latter beingconnected in parallel with the relay 98 by wires |88 and |8|.

The relay coil 99 is operatively associated with a magnetic startingswitch, generally indicated by the letter S, and comprising movablecontacts |84 adapted to engage a pair of fixed contacts, having wires|85 and |86 electrically connecting them to the motor of the thruster63, as clearly indicated in Figure 6. One of the movable contacts |84 ofthe magnetic starting switch S is electrically connected to the wire 84,leading to the main line conductor 8|, and the other movable -contact|84 of said switch is connected by a wire |82 to the wire 92 which leadsto the other conductor 88 of the supply circuit. When the coil 99 isenergized, the contacts |84-|84 are moved into electrical connectionwith their complemental fixed contacts, thereby closing the circuit tothe motor of the thruster, as will readily be understood by reference toFigure 6. Thus, it will be seen that closing of the magnetic startingswitch S connects the motor of the thruster directly across theconductors 88 and 8| of the supply circuit.

As previously stated, at the end of approximately two seconds, the timerelay contact 95 is closed. The closing of this contact will cause thecoils 98 and 99 to become energized simulta-v neously, whereby thecircuit to the thruster motor is completed. Subsequent to the closing ofthe contact 95, at the end of the two-second period, said contactremains closed as long as the coil 88 is energized. It requiresapproximately one second for the thruster and the mechanism connectedtherewith to move the guide members 25 and -25' from their inoperativeto their operative This contact remains open ak 6i' closed positions,indicated in full and dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2, and it has beenfound advisable to retain the guide members in their operative positionsfor a period of about one second to assure that the sheet will beaccurately squared with the table D before being discharged therefromonto the receiving means. It will be apparent from an inspection ofFigure 6, that after the circuits are closed to the coils 88, 98, and99, they will be maintained closed through the normally closed period ofcontact 99 of the time delay relay 98. The opening of the contact 90causes deenergization of the relay coil 88 which results in the openingof the contacts 93 a-nd 95. Opening of the contact 95 causes the coils98 and 99 to become deenergized whereby the movable contacts l04 of thestarting switch S are moved into open or inoperative positions bysuitable means such as gravity or a spring. Such opening of the startingswitch S will cause interruption of the thruster motor, whereby thecounter weight 10 on the arm 1l will restore the guide members 25 and25' to their normal open positions, shown in full lines in Figures 1 and2.

From the description of the control mechanism herein disclosed, it willbe obvious that at the time the sheet reaches the position G in Figure1, the guide members 25 and 25' begin to move from their normally openpositions, shown by the full lines in Figure 1, to their closed or`operative positions, indicated by the dotted lines in the above figure.When the guidemembers lare in their operative positions, they aresubstantially parallel to the centerline of the table. As the sheetcontinues its forward movement from the position G to that indicated bythe letter H, it is moved inwardly by the action of the guide members 25and 25 and, at the same time, it is influenced by the action of thepower driven conveyer rollers I2 and l2', and 20 of the runout table,whereby it will be accurately squared or longitudinally alined with theherringbone table D before it is discharged therefrom, as clearlyindicated in Figure 1. As soon as the guide members have performed theirfunction, they are returned to their normal open positions With theirouter ends in engagement with the side rails I l of the runout table,whereby other sheets may be received from either furnace withoutinterference from the guide members, until said sheets reach a locationon the table substantially as indicated by the dotted line position G.When narrow sheets are to be rolled the distance b-etween the heads 28which support the vertical i sheets to which the guide members aresecured are moved closer together by rotation of the hand wheel 46,whereby the guide members 25 and 25' may be properly spaced aparttoreceive therebetween the narrower sheets. It is to be understood thatthe spacing between the guide members is varied only when the rollingmilll and feeder table are adjusted for rolling sheets of iiferentwidths.

Provision is made in the operating mechanism of the guide members 25 and25 whereby the outer ends thereof will always substantially engage theside rails Il of the runout table, when said guide members are returnedto their normal inoperative or open positions. In other words, when theguide members are moved towards the center of the table for handlingnarrow Sheets, they will be rotated a greater number of degrees thanwhen positioned for handling relatively wider sheets.

To thus cause the outer ends of the guide memhandling wider sheets, asshown in Figures 1 andr 2. In other words, the connection between theplunger of the thruster'and the rock shaft 54 is vsuchfthat when theguide members 25 and 25' are moved inwardly to their operativepositions, as shown in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2, the plunger willbe at the limit of its upward movement. The extent of travel of thethruster plunger in a downward direction will be limited by the swingingmovement of the guide members 25 and 25. Inother Words, when the guidemembers are positioned as shown in Figure 11, the thruster plunger willhave a longer travel than when the guide members are positioned forhandling wider sheets, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

As hereinbefore stated, it frequently happens that the longitudinalcenterline of the rolling mill is shifted laterally with respect to the1ongitudinal centerline of the table D, which results when only one ofthe mill housings is adjusted relatively to its complemental xed housingto adapt the mill frame for relatively longer or shorter rolls. When thelongitudinal centerline of the feeder table E, or the rolling mill, isthus laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline of the table D,means must be provided for compensating for the differential in movementof the two guide members 25 and 25', it being understood that the outerends of these members always contact with the side frame members Il,when in inoperative positions, as shown in full lines in Figures 1 and2. If the outer ends of the guide members thus engage the side framemembers l l of the table, then when the guide members are laterallyoffset from the longitudinal centerline of the table D, to aline themwith the feeder table E, one of said guide members will have a greatertravel or swinging movement than the other, and as both guide membersare actuated simultaneously by the rocking movement of the rock shaft54, it Will be seen that means must be provided for taking care of thisdilferential in movement of the two guide members.

To take care of the differential in movement of the two guide members,each connecting rod 52is shown comprising two sections III and H2. Thesection H2 is shown provided with a reduced extension H3 adapted to beslidably received in the adjacent end of the section Ill. Elongatedopenings or slots H4 are provided in the walls of the section Illadapted to receive a pin 'H5 suitably secured in the reduced extensionH3 of the section H2. The terminals of the pin H5 extend beyond theperiphery of the extension lil to provide an abutment fory a p washer H5against which one end of a suitable compression spring lll is seated.The opposite sitions, as shown in Figure 7, and the two connecting rodsections do not relatively move with" respect to each other, whenthevguide members 25 and 25" are positioned symmetrically about thelongitudinal centerline of the table.

When, however, the guide members are laterally offset with respect tothe longitudinal centerline of the table D, to aline them with thelongitudinal centerline of the feeder table E, or the rolling mill, thenone of the springs H1 will become operative eachv time the guide membersare returned to their normal inoperative positions, as shown in Figuresl and 2. When the guide members are in their operative positions, asindicated by the dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2, the connecting rods 52will be retracted, and the springs H1 will bein their normal expandedpositions, as shown in Figure 7. When, however, the guide members aremoved outwardly to their inoperative positions with their outer ends inengagement with the side frame members ll of the table D, one of theguide members will contact with its respective side frame members beforethe other of said guide members, whereby it will come to rest while theother guide member continues its outward swinging movement until itcontacts with its respective side frame member Il at the opposite sideof the table D. During such continued swinging movement of the secondguide member, the connecting rod of the guide member which rst engagedits side frame member Il, will elongate, caused by the action of thecounterweight 10 continuing the rocking movement of the rock shaft 54until the second guide member engages its limit stop or side framemember Il, whereby the rock shaft 54 comes to rest. The tension of thesprings IIT is such as to cause the weight 'I to operate as abovedescribed, whereby it will be clearly understood that the outer ends ofthe guide members 25 and 25 will always be brought into contact with theside frame members il, when in inoperative positions.

Figure 11 diagrammatically illustrates a herringbone runout table ofslightly different dimensions than those of the table disclosed inFigures l and 2. In Figure 1l, the guide memf bers 25 and 25 are shownpositioned for handling narrow sheets. This figure also showssubstantially the path traveled by the sheets when discharged from thefurnace adjacent its outer wall. When the same apparatus is to be usedfor handling both wide and narrow sheets, additional limit switches H9and |20 may be provided at the receiving end of the table D so thatregardless of whether the sheets are discharged from the furnacesadjacent their outer or their inner walls, said sheets will alwaysengage and actuated one or more of the limit switches provided at thereceiving end of the table D. These additional limit switches |20 and H9are connected in parallel with their respective limit switches 82 and 83whereby, regardless of which switch at the discharge end of the furnaceis actuated by a sheet discharging therefrom, the mechanism foroperating the guide members 25 and 25 will be automatically set intomotion i when the sheet reaches substantially a predetermined positionupon the runout table D.

When the guide members are laterally offset from the longitudinalcenterline of the runout table D, as hereinbefore described, the actionof said members upon the sheets traveling over .the runout table will besubstantially the same as when positioned symmetrically with respect tothe longitudinal centerline of the table D, the only diierence beingthat one of the guide members, in moving into` its operative position,will have the extra burden of sliding the sheet laterally across thetable into position between the two guide members from which position itwill be discharged from the table D in a position symmetrically toI orlongitudinally alined with the corresponding centerline of the feedertable E, and the rolling mill. In most cases, the distance through whichthe sheet will be pushed laterally by one of the guide members will be amatter of only a few inches.

In the drawings and in the foregoing description, I have disclosed asquaring mechanism adapted for use in connection with runout tables ofthe herringbone type, comprising a pair of guide members adapted to beoperated by a hydraulic thruster provided with an automatic electricalcontrol mechanism. It is to be understood; however, that other types ofoperating mechanisms may be used for actuating the guide members 25 and25'. For example, the guide members may be operated by a motor through aspeed reduction unit and a suitable crank mechanism, in lieu of thethruster operated mechanism herein disclosed. It will therefore be seenthat various changes may be made in the constructional details of theapparatus, and the means for operating the same, without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a runout table, rows of load-carrying rollers arranged to conveyarticles inwardly towards the center of the table as they passthereover, means movably mounted over said table and cooperating withsaid rollers to square each article with the longitudinal centerline ofthe table before it is discharged therefrom, and an operating mechanismfor said movable means controlled by movement of the'articles.

2. In a runout table, rows o-f load-carrying rollers arranged to conveyarticles inwardly towards the center of the table as they passthereover, means mounted for swinging movement over said table andcooperating with said rollers to square each article with the tablebefore it is discharged therefrom, and an operating mechanism for saidswinging means controlled by movement of the articles.

3. In a converging runout table, rows of loadcarrying rollers, therollers of one row being angularly disposed with respect to the rollersof an adjacent row, whereby articles passing over the table will beconveyed inwardly towards the center thereof, as they approach theIdischarge end of the table, oppositely movable guide members at thedischarge end of the table adapted to engage and square each articlewith the table before being discharged therefrom, and means responsiveto the traveling movement of articles over the table to control theoperation of said guide members.

'4. In a converging runout table adapted to receive articles fromseparate sources of supply, said table comprising two rows ofload-carrying rollers, the rollers of one row being arranged obliquelyto the rollers of the other row, whereby articles conveyed over thetable will moveinwardly towards the center thereof, as they approach thedischarge end of the table, a pair of guide members mounted for swingingmovement over a portion of said tableand adapted to engage and squareeach article with the table before vit is discharged therefrom, anoperating mechanism for said guide members, and means made operable bymovement of the-articles for automatically controlling the operation ofsaid operating mechanism. i

5. In a converging runout table adapted to receive hot metal sheets froma plurality of furnaces and convey them to a single receiving means suchas a rolling mill, said table comprising a plurality of angularlydisposed load carrying rollers, forming the bed thereof, and wherebysheets conveyed over the table will move inwardly towards l0 the centerthereon, as they approach the discharge end of the table, and meansresponsive to the travel of the sheets over said table to aline each.sheet with said receiving means, before it is discharged thereonto fromthe runout table.

6. In a converging runout table adapted t0 receive hot metal sheets froma plurality of furnaces and deliver them to a single receiving means,such as the feeder table of a rolling mill, said runout table comprisinga plurality of angularly disposed load-carrying rollers whereby sheetsconveyed over said table will move inwardly towards the center thereof,as they approach the discharge end of the table, a pair of pivoted guidemembers at the discharge end of the table, an operating mechanism forsaid guide members, and a control mechanism for said operatingmechanism, comprising a plurality of control elements positioned to beactuated by sheets delivered onto the runout table whereby said guidemembers will be operated to square each sheet with the longitudinalcenterline of the receiving means, before it is discharged thereontofrom the runout table.

7. In a converging runout table adapted to receive hot metal sheets froma plurality of furnaces and deliver them to a single receiving means,such as the feeder table of a rolling mill, said runout table comprisinga plurality of angularly disposed load-carrying rollers whereby sheetsconveyed over said table Will move inwardly towards the center thereof,as they approach the discharge end of the table, a pair of pivoted guidemembers at the discharge end of the table,

an operating mechanism for said guide members, and an electric controlmechanism for said operating mechanism, comprising a plurality ofindependently operable control elements positioned to be actuated bysheets delivered onto the runout table from the furnaces, whereby saidguide members will be automatically operated to square each sheet withthe longitudinal centerline of the receiving means, before it isdischarged thereonto from the runout table.

8. In a converging runout table adapted to receive hot metal sheets froma plurality of furnaces and deliver them to a single receiving meanssuch as a rolling mill, said table comprising a plurality of angul-arlydisposed load carrying rollers whereby sheets conveyed over G0 the tablewill move inwardly towards the center thereof, as they approach thedischarge end of the table, a pair of guide members at the discharge endof the table adapted to engage and u square each sheet with respect tosaid receiving means, before it is discharged thereonto from the runouttable, an operating mechanism for automatically actuating said guidemembers, s-aid operating mechanism including a motor, and a plurality oflimit switches positioned to be in- 7" fluenced by traveling movement ofthe sheets over said table, and means whereby said guide members may berelatively adjusted towards or away from each other, thereby to adaptthe apparatus for handling sheets of different Widths.

9. In a converging runout table adapted to receive hot metal sheets froma plurality of furnaces and deliver them to a single receiving meanssuch as a rolling mill, a squaring mechanism at the discharge end ofsaid table comprising a pair of guide members mounted for swingingmovement over the table to thereby engage and square each sheet withsaid receiving means, before it is delivered thereonto from said table,a supporting head for each guide member, means whereby said heads may beadjusted independently of each other to aline or square said guidemembers with the longitudinal centerline of the receiving means, andalso whereby the spacing between said guide members may be varied toadapt them for sheets of different widths, an operating mechanism forsimultaneously actuating said guide members, and a control means forsaid operating mechanism, including a plurality of limit switchespositioned to be actuated by sheetsr delivered onto the runout tablefrom said furnaces, whereby said guide members will be automaticallyoperated each time a sheet approaches the discharge end of the table.

10. In a converging runout table adapted to receive hot metal sheetsfrom a plurality of furnaces and deliver them to a single receivingmeans such as a rolling mill, said table comprising a plurality ofangularly disposed loadcarrying rollers whereby sheets conveyed oversaid table will be moved inwardly towards the center thereof as theyapproach the discharge end of the table, a squaring mechanism comprisinga pair of guide members mounted for swinging movement over the table tothereby engage and square each sheet with said receiving means, beforeit is delivered thereonto from said table, a supporting structuremounted over the table adjacent its discharge end, a supporting head foreach guide member, mounted for independent adjustment on said supportingstructure, whereby they may be moved towards or away from each other fordifferent width sheets, and whereby they also may be alined with saidreceiving means, should the longitudinal centerline of said securingmeans be laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline of the runouttable, an operating mechanism for simultaneously actuating said guidemembers, and a control means for said operating mechanism, including aplurality of limit switches positioned to be actuated by sheetsdelivered onto the runout table from said furnaces, whereby said guidemembers will be automatically operated each time a sheet approaches thedischarge end of the table.

11. In a conveying apparatus, guide elements, operating means forsimultaneously moving said guide elements inwardly to center thearticles on the apparatus, and a plurality of electric switchesresponsive to traveling movement of articles over the apparatus therebyto automatically control the operation of said guide elements.

CHARLES A. ADAMS.

